Controlled Substance Abuse In The Workplace Notification

Policy

It is the policy of National Louis University to ensure that all of its workplaces are free from the illegal use, possession or distribution of controlled substances by its employees.

Application

The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance is prohibited anywhere in the University or on the grounds at all NLU campus locations. Failure to comply with this policy will result in one or more of the following sanctions:

Requirement to attend drug awareness seminars provided by the University;

Requirement to participate in a certified rehabilitation program;

Suspension without pay; or

Termination

All employees must sign an agreement stating that, as a condition of employment, the employee will:

Abide by the terms of this policy; and

Notify the Office of Human Resources of any criminal drug statute conviction for the violation occurring in the workplace no later than five days after the conviction.

National Louis University will provide information to employees regarding the dangers of drug use in the workplace in the form of information brochures, lectures, seminars, workshops and the like. Employees will be allowed to schedule time during work hours, with their supervisorâ€™s approval, to participate in these activities.

Common Questions About The Drug-Free Workplace Act

With minor exceptions, all grants, regardless of dollar amount, are subject to the requirements of the Act. The term "grant" is defined to include a cooperative agreement. Contracts are subject to the Act only if (a) they have value of $25,000 or more or (b) they constitute procurement contracts (including purchase orders) awarded pursuant to provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Grants and contracts are not covered if they are to be performed entirely outside of the territorial limits of the United States.

Grants and contracts awarded prior to March 18, 1989, are not subject to the requirements of the Act; recipients will not be required to produce a drug-free workplace certification in order to continue receiving payments under an existing grant or contract. If a grant application or contract proposal is not submitted prior to that date, then the award winner will be required to produce a drug-free workplace certification before the actual reward. If a grant or contract awarded prior to March 18, 1989, is renegotiated or significantly modified after that date, certification will be required at that time.

The DOD rule became effective October 31, 1988. It applies to selected Defense contractors and their employees in sensitive positions. Contractors covered by the DOD rule most likely are also covered by the Drug-Free Workplace Act and implementing regulations. If your institution administers Defense contracts, you should pay careful attention to the DOD rule which, under certain limited circumstances, mandates employee drug testing.

It depends. The Act literally applies only to employees "directly engaged in the performance of work pursuant to the provisions of the grant or contract." If a grant to contract is awarded directly to a department, division or unit of a college or university, then only the employees of that subdivision are technically covered. In practice however, it is often difficult to segregate employees performing federally supported work, and most of the institutions have already adopted drug-free workplace policies have elected to include all employees.

Neither the Act nor the implementing regulations have addressed this grant program specifically. We have been advised informally by the United States Department of Education that individuals who apply for Pell Grants will be required to complete a drug-free certification prior to receipt of the award.

The law prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession and use of unlawful drugs in the workplace. Employers are not responsible for the conduct of their employees outside of the workplace.

Dear Student Employee,

Please find attached the National Louis University policy on maintaining a drug-free workplace and common questions about this policy. Please note that as a condition of employment with NLU, an employee must sign this notification, agree to read the attached policy and abide by the following:

The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance is strictly prohibited in the workplace; and

An employee will report to NLU any conviction under a criminal drug statute for conduct in the workplace no later than five days after the conviction.

I hereby certify that I have read the National-Louis University policy entitled "CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE WORKPLACE" and will abide by the conditions contained therein. I am fully aware that non-compliance will result in sanctions imposed on me by the University.

CHICAGO DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

NLU’s Chicago campus on South Michigan Avenue occupies five floors of the historic Peoples Gas Building. This landmark building, across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park, is easily accessible by train, bus and car and is surrounded by restaurants, parking lots/garages and shops.

ELGIN

Conveniently located in a fast-growing business district off I-90 and Route 31, NLU Elgin features 10 classrooms with high-tech media equipment; a computer lab with high-speed Internet access; two conference rooms; and comfortable student lounges. Parking is free at this recently remodeled and upgraded teaching site, which now includes wireless Internet access.

NORTH SHORE

Opened in the summer of 2006, NLU North Shore at Skokie is a state-of-the-art modern campus located just off the Edens Expressway near the Old Orchard Shopping Center. The campus includes 44 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a walk-in lab in the library; six conference rooms; a public café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; and multiple, comfortable student lounge areas.

LISLE

Located just minutes from the East-West Tollway (I-88), NLU Lisle features 42 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a separate walk-in lab in the library; a café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; conference rooms; and six comfortable student lounge areas with wireless access.

WHEELING

Located in one of Chicago's major northwest suburbs, the newly renovated NLU Wheeling includes 20 classrooms with high-tech media equipment, four conference rooms, four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, large student lounge areas with wireless capabilities and interactive video capabilities, and an extensive research library. The site also houses the university library research collection.

FLORIDA (TAMPA)

Established in 1988 and located in one of the city's major business districts, NLU's Florida Regional Center serves students in 13 counties in central Florida. In addition to six classrooms, this location features a conference room, a computer lab with high-speed Internet access, an extensive research library and comfortable student lounges.

WISCONSIN

NLU's Milwaukee campus has a proud history of serving graduate students in education in southeastern Wisconsin. Nearly one in five certified Wisconsin teachers looks to NLU for graduate education programs – more than any other university in the state. In addition to classrooms with high-tech media equipment, the campus offers a state-of-the-art computer lab with wireless Internet access and an extensive IDS research library.